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France Introduces Passenger Tax for Cruises to Address Environmental Impact

France Introduces Passenger Tax for Cruises to Address Environmental Impact

France is set to implement a new passenger tax on cruise tourism as part of its efforts to mitigate the environmental impact of the booming cruise sector. The proposed tax, which has cleared the French Senate, will charge travelers approximately $27 per person for each port call in France. This measure is part of the 2026 draft budget and is designed around the 'polluter pays' principle, ensuring that those responsible for environmental damage bear the financial burden. The government estimates that the levy could generate up to €750 million annually, with funds earmarked for environmental protection projects, including coastline preservation. This move follows stricter port policies in other parts of the French Riviera, such as Cannes and Nice, which have imposed limits on cruise ship arrivals.

Vertical Aerospace Partners with Skyports and Bristow to Launch UK's First Electric Air Taxi Network

Vertical Aerospace Partners with Skyports and Bristow to Launch UK's First Electric Air Taxi Network

Vertical Aerospace has announced a collaboration with Skyports Infrastructure and Bristow Group to establish the UK's first electric air taxi network. The initiative aims to connect Canary Wharf with major transport hubs such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Cambridge, and Oxford, significantly reducing travel times. The project is set to launch in the first quarter of 2029, with the initial phase focusing on high-value mobility corridors in the UK. Vertical Aerospace's new aircraft, Valo, will be central to this network, offering zero-emission flights and cutting journey times from Canary Wharf to Heathrow from 60-90 minutes to just 12 minutes. The partnership combines Vertical's aircraft technology, Skyports' infrastructure expertise, and Bristow's operational capabilities to create a scalable urban air mobility solution.

Zelenskyy Utilizes Innovative Communication During European Diplomatic Tour Amid War Negotiations

Zelenskyy Utilizes Innovative Communication During European Diplomatic Tour Amid War Negotiations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has embarked on a 36-hour diplomatic tour across Europe, utilizing unconventional communication methods to convey his message. During flights between London and Brussels, Zelenskyy answered questions from reporters via audio clips on WhatsApp, emphasizing Ukraine's refusal to surrender land to Russia. This approach marks a departure from traditional press conferences, reflecting the urgency and complexity of ongoing negotiations. Zelenskyy met with leaders from the UK, Germany, France, NATO, and the EU, discussing the potential cession of Russian-occupied territories in exchange for security guarantees. The talks are complicated by uncertainties regarding the U.S. administration's commitment to European security.

Adobe Integrates Creative Tools into ChatGPT, Expanding User Access

Adobe Integrates Creative Tools into ChatGPT, Expanding User Access

Adobe Integrates Creative Tools into ChatGPT, Expanding User Access

UK sanctions Russian and Chinese firms suspected of being 'malign actors' in information warfare

UK sanctions Russian and Chinese firms suspected of being 'malign actors' in information warfare

Britain has announced sanctions against several Russian media and ideas organizations

Study Reveals Impact of Artificial Light on Carbon Sequestration in North America and Europe

Study Reveals Impact of Artificial Light on Carbon Sequestration in North America and Europe

A recent study published in Nature Climate Change by Alice S. A. Johnston and colleagues from Cranfield University, UK, has highlighted the impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on carbon fluxes across North America and Europe. The research utilized nighttime light datasets and eddy covariance observations to assess how ALAN affects ecosystem-level respiration and net ecosystem exchange. The findings indicate that ALAN enhances respiration and weakens the net ecosystem exchange, thereby reducing the carbon sink capacity of ecosystems on a continental scale. This study adds to the growing body of evidence that light pollution is a significant factor in global change, affecting the carbon sequestration capabilities of ecosystems.

Britons watch YouTube for 51 minutes a day, regulator Ofcom says

Britons watch YouTube for 51 minutes a day, regulator Ofcom says

LONDON, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Britons watched YouTube on average for 51 minutes a day in 2025 on smartphones, tablets and PCs, regulator Ofcom said, noting that services from its owner Alphabet and from Meta account for more than half of all time spent online.

Vertical Aerospace Unveils Valo eVTOL Aircraft with Zero Emissions

Vertical Aerospace Unveils Valo eVTOL Aircraft with Zero Emissions

Vertical Aerospace Unveils Valo eVTOL Aircraft with Zero Emissions

FDA Approves First At-Home Device for Depression, Expanding Treatment Options

FDA Approves First At-Home Device for Depression, Expanding Treatment Options

Flow Neuroscience has received FDA approval for its FL-100 device, a wearable brain stimulation tool designed for at-home use to treat major depressive disorder (MDD). The device employs transcranial direct current stimulation (tCDS), which involves applying a weak direct current to the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain associated with mood regulation. This non-invasive treatment aims to increase neuron excitability in individuals with depression. The FL-100 device is already available in markets such as the UK, Europe, and Australia, and has been used by over 55,000 people. It is set to launch in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2026. The device can be used as a stand-alone or adjunctive treatment for adults with moderate to severe MDD who are not treatment refractory to medication.

DeepMind to Launch Automated Research Lab in the UK for AI and Robotics

DeepMind to Launch Automated Research Lab in the UK for AI and Robotics

Google's AI unit, DeepMind, has announced plans to establish its first 'automated research lab' in the UK. The lab, set to open next year, will utilize AI and robotics to conduct experiments, focusing on the development of new superconductor materials and semiconductors. This initiative is part of a partnership that grants British scientists priority access to advanced AI tools. DeepMind, founded in London and acquired by Google in 2014, has been pivotal in AI advancements. The partnership may also involve collaboration with the UK government on AI research in areas like nuclear fusion and the deployment of DeepMind's Gemini models across government and education sectors.

Microsoft fights $2.8 billion UK lawsuit over cloud computing licences

Microsoft fights $2.8 billion UK lawsuit over cloud computing licences

LONDON, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Microsoft was on Thursday accused of overcharging thousands of British businesses to use Windows Server software on cloud computing services provided by Amazon, Google and Alibaba, at a pivotal hearing in a 2.1 billion-pound ($2.81 billion) lawsuit.

Study Reveals Artificial Light at Night Reduces Carbon Sink Capacity in Ecosystems

Study Reveals Artificial Light at Night Reduces Carbon Sink Capacity in Ecosystems

A recent study published in Nature Climate Change by Alice S. A. Johnston and colleagues at Cranfield University, UK, has highlighted the impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on carbon fluxes across North America and Europe. The research utilized nighttime light datasets and eddy covariance observations to assess how ALAN affects ecosystem-level respiration and net ecosystem exchange. The findings indicate that ALAN enhances respiration and weakens the net ecosystem exchange, thereby reducing the carbon sink capacity of ecosystems on a continental scale. This study adds to the growing body of evidence that light pollution is a significant factor in global change, affecting the carbon sequestration capabilities of ecosystems.